Mounting of axial flow fans and the like



Jan. 3, 1939. R. DE MEY -r AL MOUNTING OF- AXIAL FLOW FANS AND THE LIKE Filed June 13, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTURS' 7 Jan. 3, 1939 R.- DE MEY ET AL I. 7 2,142,307

A MOUNTING 0F AXIAL FLOW FANS AND THE LIKE I Filed June 15, 1955 5 Sheets-Shet 2 IN V EN TORS.

Dc med flakrd Jam. 3, 1939. R. DE MEY El AL v v 2342,307

MOUNTING OF AXIAL FLOW FANS AND THE LIKE Filed June 13, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS! Patented Jan. 3, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,142,307 MOUNTING or AXIAL r gow FANS AND THE Ren De Mey and Paul Havard,

Brussels, Belgium Application June 13, 1935, Serial No. 26,486 In Great Britain June 14, 1934 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to the mounting of axial flow fans and the like and concerns particularly the fixing of the prime mover, for example-the electric motor, actuating such machines.

For this purpose and in accordance with one method as actually used, use is made of radial supports the inner and outer extremities of which are provided with fastening lugs adapted to be bolted to the prime mover and to the fan casing respectively or, according to a modifica-- tion, the radial supports are formed integral with the prime mover body as by a casting operation.

These methods show several disadvantages amongst which may be cited: the difiicult alignment of the prime mover and or the rotor inside the fan casing; difiicult machining and assembling of the parts; necessity of a prime mover of special design; owing to the straight form of the radial supports objectionable noise, i. e., a siren effect, is produced when the supports are located closely adjacent the fan rotor.

The invention avoids these disadvantages.

One object of the invention is to provide a method and arrangements of parts which enable a perfect alignment of the prime mover and, or

the rotor in relation to the fan casing to bev obtained with a minimum of fitting work, as well as the radial clearance of the rotor blades or vanes to be kept easily equal, the prime mover further being able to be quickly dismounted and removed. a

Another object of the invention is to enable a standard type of prime mover to-be used. Still another object of the invention is to eliminate the siren effect produced by the supports when placed in close proximity of the rotor thus enabling a very silent operation :to be obtained.

With this and other objectsin viewthe invention consists in supporting the prime mover by means of a spiderlike frame comprising an inner annular ring to which the prime mover is secured and means such as Spokes enabling said ring to be secured to a bearing part or parts machine or otherwise provided on the casing.

The invention also consists in giving these spokes a stream lined section.

The invention further consists in giving these spokes a curved shape, and preferably a sinusoidal outline in radial direction.

According to one construction, the assembly to the casing is obtained by means of an outer annular ring, with which the spokes aremade integral or to which such spokes are. secured as by means of bolts, rivets or'other fastening devices, said annular ring having at least one face machined for cooperation with a machined face of the casing,

According to another-construction, the 'outer. 5 ends of the spokes arep'rovided with bosses by means of which the supporting frame is secured to the casing, as by means of bolts, studs or screws extending. axially and, or in radial direction.

In both cases, the spokes may be straight or curved in radial direction and for example of sinusoidal outline, according to whichthe supporting frame is located away from or adjacent to rotating parts able to produce a siren effect.

Also the spokes may be simple or doubled, and their number may be varied according to the requirements.

In order thatthe invention may be clearly understood the aforesaid forms of construction 20 of supporting frame will now be described with more details as applied byway of example to prime movers for axial flow fans, in reference to the annexed drawings, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a side sectional elevation of anaxial flow machine having the invention applied thereto;

' Figs. 2 and 3 are end elevation views of the machine showing the supporting frame provided with straight and alternatively sinusoidal spokes;

Fig. 3a is an end elevation view illustrating a modification of the spokes shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevation view of an axial flow machine showing another constructional form;

Figs. 5 and 6 are endelevation views of the machine, showing two alternative arrangements of the assembly of the outer ends of the spokes;

Fig. 6a is an end elevation of the spoke arrangement shown in Fig. 6. 40

Fig. '7 is a detail view in side elevation.

As will be seen in Fig. 1 the prime mover or electric motor I is supported and centralized in the fan casing 2 by means of a supporting frame 3 comprising inner and outer annular rings 4 7 and 5 connected-together by spokes which may be directed radially as at 6 in Fig. 2 or may be sinusoidal shape, asshown, at I in Fig. 3 according to the proximity of the rotor Ill. The

supporting frame may have three, four or more ment of the motor I and centralization of the rotor II in the casing 2 is obtained by means of the machined face of the motor flange ll being provided with a turned spigot to fit 9. corresponding hole I! in the machinedrface of the inner annular ring 4, and by the outer annular ring these may be reinforced when necessary to increase their rigidity and prevent vibration by providing a duplicate set of spokes l5 of the opposite hand in addition to the spokes I as shown in Fig. 3a. This reinforcement is of particular importance when the supporting frame 3 is cast in two halves jointed as at It in Fig. 3a so as to enablethe prime-mover I and rotor Ill to be easily removed from the'casing 2 for example in vertical direction, in which case the casing 2 is provided cast on their outer extremities for fixing by means with a joint I I as indicated in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 4 the prime-mover or electric motor I is supported and centralized in the fan casing la by meansof a supporting frame 30 comprising an inner annular ring III to which the prime-mover l is bolted as by means of the screws or bolts 8, said ring having three, four or more arms [8 cast thereon, Figs. 5 and 6, and of dnusoidal outline, said arms being provided with bosses l9 (see Figs. 4 and 5) cast on their outer extremities and secured, by means of screws or bolts 2 I, to corresponding bosses," cast or welded integral with the casing 2a.

Alternatively, as will be seen in Figs. 6 and 7, the arms It may be provided with feet or lugs 22 of bolts 21 to the end flange 23 of thecasing.

Centralization of the supporting frame and, incidentally, that of the rotor I I may be ensured inside the casing 2 by machining a shoulder 25 on the arms l8 themselves or on the feet 22 of the arms if preferred, so as to fit the bore 26 or a machined recess in the flange 23 of the casing in.

with this type of supporting frame also, the' 'sinusoidal. support armsll in Fig. 6 may be reinforced to increase their rigidity and prevent vibration, by casting integrally with them and the inner annular ring a duplicate set of armsfl of'the' opposite handas shown in Fig. 60. A ain as with the supporting frame d with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, this reinforcement is of special importance when "the supporting frame is made in halves withajoint l6 arrangedasshownirili'igfi. Itwillbeseenthatthearms llmaybeprovidedwithfeetorhigsadaptedtoreceiveoneboltor A screw or, alternatively two bolts, the arrangement includes ofFIgSbeingintendedfor-thesmallerfllightcr typesand that of Pig. 6 for the larger or heavier type'soffans.

Itistobeunderstoodthatthem maybeusedaswellforsupportingabearingbox carryingashaftoragearboxwhenabeltdrive or a gear drive-is selected, and that the invention is not limited to-the application to fun but 1. Anarrangementformountingaxialflowfam andthelike, including aprime mover, comprising anannularinnermemberforminganoutercom- 'pleteencirclingmpportfortheprimemcver,inte--' gral spokes away from said annular casing of substantially 3 manbenanimperf clrcmarcrommbarlngmfsces transverse to the axis of the fan, complementary 15' bearing surfaces associated to the spoka and axially extending means to secure together the bearing surfaces on the casing and on the spokes. 3. An arrangement for moimting axial flow fans and the like, including a prime mover, comprising 20 an annular inner member forming an outer com-v plete encircling support for the prime mover, inte- 4 gral spokes extendingaway from said annular member, an imperforate casing of substantially circular cross section, bearing surfaces extending 25 inwardly from said casing intermediate the ends thereof, a ring connecting the outer ends of the A spokes, said ring including bearing complementary to the bearing surfaces first named and axially extending means for securing together all the said bearing surfaces.

4. An arrangement for moimting axial flow fans and the like, including a prime mover, comprising an annular inner member forming an outer complete encircling support for the prime mover, inie-. 35

gral spokes extending away from'said annular membensaidspokes lylnginone andthesame plane transverse'to the axis of the fan, an imperforate casing of substantially circular cross section, bearing surfaces extending-inwardly from said casing intermediate the ends thereof, complementary bearing surfaces to the spokesandaxiallyextcndingmeanstosecureto' getherthebearingsurfscesonthe casingand on the spokes. v

5. An arrangement for mounting axial flow farm and theIikeJncIuding'apximemover comprising iii Jaspider1ikeframe,said1rameincludinga7cmtral" annularmemberandmkeslyinginaplanesubstantiallyv parallel tothe plane of the blades,saidspokesofcurved shapeinradialdirem outwardly from said central munberandlciningsaid member-under angles of 'incidencenearofm'. I

8,An arrangem entrai- 1h ting axial flow 5 fansandthelikeincludingaprimemover,com-

'prisingan'annularinnermunberfcrming outer' endrclingjsupportfor il'ime mover.

mawayhomsaidannularmemzenacaslngof'druflaraossscoall a. z.

saldandmeanstosecmetogethertne anannnhrinne'rmemberformingmoutsrmdrummer-t for m1 away-from said annular mac. n madnmhrgropvefa'medmfliehmerm medthe'casnabminsmeumnumi f aringtheoutermdd lm lyingin-idlroove. 7s

surfaces complementary to the bearing surfaces first named, and means for securing together all the said bearing surfaces.

8. An arrangement for mounting axial flow fans and the like including a prime mover, comprising an annular inner member forming an outer encircling support for said prime mover, spokes of sinusoidal curvature extending away from said annular member and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the rotating blades, a casing, depressions in the inner face of said casing, bearing surfaces in said depressions, complementary bearing, surfaces associated to the spokes, and means to secure together the bearing surfaces on the casing and on the spokes. 

